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V. T. LYNCH.

TROLLEY POLE GOVERNOR.

No. 573,517. Patented Dec. 22, 1896.

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V. T. LYNCH. TROLLEY POLE GOVERNOR.

No. 573,517. 7 Patented Dec.- 22, 1896.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E.

VERNON T. LYNCH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN M. ROACH, OF SAME PLACE.

TROLLEY-PO LE GOVERNOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,517, dated December 22, 1896. Application filecl March 4, 1896. Serial No. 581,798. (No mtdel.)

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that 1,.VERNON T. LYNCH, a citizen of the United States,'residing at Chicago,'in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Trolley Pole Governors, (Case No. 1,) of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a reel for the trolley-poles of electrical vehicles, its object being to provide means whereby a rope connected to the trolley-pole of an electric car may be maintained taut while permitting the rise and fall of the trolley-pole as the trolleywheel travels along the conductor, and to further provide means for winding up the rope to draw down the trolley-pole the instant the trolley-wheel is thrown from the conductor or when it is desired to move the trolley-wheel out of contact with the trolley-conductor. I

provide two rotary drums, one within the other, the rope connected with the trolleypole passing through an opening in the periphery of the outer drum and being wound about the inner drum. A spring is provided which tends to rotate the inner drum and maintains the rope continuously taut, the spring being of less strength than the spring tending to elevate the trolley-pole, so that the inner drum maintains the rope taut while permitting the free movement of the trolleypole. A catch normallymaintains the outer drum against rotation, and a spring is provided tending to rotate the outer drum to wind the rope thereon and draw the trolleyarm downward and out of contact with the trolley. A locking device is provided which remains out of operation so long as the trolley-wheel bears against the trolley-conductor, and the movement of the inner drum is thus gradual, moving only sufficiently to take up and pay out the slack as the trolley-pole swings upon its pivot. Should, however, the trolley-wheel be thrown from the conductor, the trolley-pole is suddenly moved upward by the spring thereon, and the increased speed of movement of the inner drum throws the locking device into operation, at the same time releasing the catch in engagement with the outer drum. The spring tending to rotate the outer drum is of greater strength than the spring tending-t0 elevate the trolleypole, and in consequence the two drums are rotated together to wind the rope upon the outer drum and draw the trolley-pole downward. Should it be desired to move the trolley-wheel out of contact with the trolley-conductor at any time, the catch normally looking the outer drum may be released, and the drum will rotate to-wind the rope thereon, and thus draw the trolley-arm downward and move the trolley-wheel out of engagement with the conductor.

7 I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the reel of my invention, showing the manner of connecting the same with the trolley-arm. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the reel. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. at is a sectional View on line 4: at, Fig. 3.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

A central stud or axle a is provided which is maintained in a stationary position during the operation of the reel, and upon the stud a are journaled the outer and inner drums b and o. The outer drumb comprises a disk I), journaled upon the stud a and carrying near the outer periphery a cylindrical portion 11 which constitutes the faceof the drum, about which the rope is adapted to be Wound. A flange b is provided for preventing the rope from leaving the drum. A handle 6 is provided upon the outer drum for manually rotating the same. The inner drum 0 also comprises a disk-like portion a, journaled upon the stud a and provided at the periphery with a cylindrical portion 0 constituting the face of the drum, the cylindrical portion being provided with a flange c to prevent the rope from leaving the drum. Against the face of the inner drum rests a plate d, being secured thereto by screws cl d, a space being left between the plate (1 and the disk 0, within which a helical spring 6 is placed, one end of the said spring being attached to a collar or ring e, secured to the stud a by means of a set-screw 6 the opposite end of the springbeing secured to a stud or pin 6 carried upon the drum 0.

The periphery of the plate (Z extends beyond the face of the outer drum, and thus constitutes a flange which prevents'th-e rope from passing from the drum.

An opening I) is provided in the outer drum, through which the rope f, secured to the trolley-arm g, is adapted to pas's, the rope being wound about the inner drum and secured at the end thereto. The helical spring e tends to rotate the inner drum in a direction to wind the rope thereon, and thus the rope is continuously maintained taut, the springe being of less strength than the spring pressing the trolley-arm upward, thus permitting the unwinding of the drum when the trolley-arm is elevated and winding up the slack when the trolley-arm is lowered.

A helical spring 7t is provided, one end of which is secured to the stud a while the other end is secnred to a pin '71 carried upon the inner face of the outer drum. The spring; It finds tends to rotate the enter drum Z) tO'WiD'Cl the rope f thereon, but the drum is "normally maintained against rotation by the engagement era catch or dog t with notch t", provided the periphery of the outer drum.

A cylindrical portion e est-ends from the inner face or the drum '0 and is provided at the edge with a series of teen-1 or projections c c, against which the end of apivo'te'd lever is adapted to rest. The revs-'1- k is pivoted at 70 and carries upon theo'pp'osite end -a dog k", which, when the iev'cr k is rotated, is adapted to pass between the teeth v cand lock theo uter and innerdrmns together. The end of the lever 70 rests against teeth, and so long as the inner dru'm moves back and forth slowly, as itdoes when giving out and taking up the slack in the rope, the'dog 13 remains out of engagement with the teeth '0 Should, however, the trolley-wheel be thrown from the troliey-conductor, the rope f will be rapidly unwound from the inner drum and a rapid rotation of the inner drum will result, which will cause the teeth 0 to strike against the end of the lever 7a with considerable force, thus rocking the lever upon its pivot and thru'sl i n g the dog 7.; between the teeth 0 the lever k-at the same time striking the dog 2' and moving the same'out of engagement with the n-ot'ch i. 'lhe outewd rum is thus released and -at the same time the outer and inner drums are loeke'd together.

The heii'c spring h is stronger "than the 1 spring ten to elevate the trolley-arm, and

in 'conseqi-lence the drains are rotated by means or said spring h to wind the rope upon the outer drum and draw the trolley-arm downward Thereel is preferably 'inounte'd upon the rear dashboard of the vehicle, and when it is desired to reverse the direction of travel of the vehicle the reel may be detached and placed upon the opposite-end of the car.

It is evident that in y invention is si'isce'pt-i'ble of modification end that "o't her disposition of the drums may he made and other locking and releasing devices may be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a controlling device for trolley-poles, the combination with a reel or drum upon which the rope or cord connected with the trolley-pole is adapted to be wound, of a spring for rotating the said drum to maintain the rope taut, a second reel or drum, a spring for rotating the said second drum to wind the rope thereon, and means controlled by the rapid rotation of the first-named reel or drum as the rope is unwound therefrom for throwing the said second-mentioned spring into action to wind the rope upon the second drum and draw the trolley-arm downward; substantially as described. 7

2. The combination with an upwardlypress'ed trolley-pole, of a drum about "which a rope attached to said trolley-pole is adapted to be wound, a spring for rotating said drum to maintain the rope taut, a second drum whe'reon the said rope is also adapted to be wound, a spring for rotating the same, a catch normally maintaining said second drum against rotation,a locking device for locking said drums together, and means controlled by the rapid rotation of said first-mentioned drum for actuating said locking device to lock the drums together and "for releasing said catch to permit the drums to rotate to wind up the rope upon the second-mentioned drum and draw the trolley-pole downward; substantially as described. I

3. The combination with the inner drum about which the rope secured to a trolley-pole is adapted to be wound, of the outer drum provided with an opening through whichsaid rope passes to the inner drum, spring for rotating the inner drum, said spring having a tension less than the tension of the spring tending to elevate the trolley-pole, a spring for rotating the outer drum and of a tension to overcome the tension of the springtendin'g to elevate the trolley pole, a catch for normally maintaining the outer drum against rotation, a series of teeth provided upon the inner drum, and a lever "pivoted to the outer dri'i-m and resting by the end against said teeth and arranged to thrust a dog between said teeth when rocked through a predetermined distance and at the same time torelease said catch, whereby the rapid rotation of the inner drum can'ses' said teeth to strike the 'pivoted lever to thrust the dog between the teeth-carried upon the 'inne'rdrum and to release the catch,substantially as and for'the purpose set forth.

4. The combination with the stationary axle 'or stud "a, of the outer drum "b jourinaled thereon and pro'videc'lwith'an openin in the periphery for the assage of the rope at tached to the trolley-pole, a drum c si-tua'te'd within said o'iiter'dru'm and journale'd upon drum with which teeth the end of said rock- I ing lever is adapted to engage, a dog 7;? carried upon the opposite end of said lever and arranged to pass between the said teeth when the lever is rocked to thus lock the two drums together, a catch 11 for normally maintaining the outer drum against rotation, said catch being released by said rocking lever, sub stantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 2d day of March, A. D. 1896.

VERNON T. LYN OH. Witnesses:

GEORGE P. BARTON, JOHN W. SINCLAIR. 

